Inflatable articles



Nov. 8, 1966 Filed May 5, 1965 E-C-BARBERA INFLATABLE ARTICLES 2Sheets-Sheet l FIG.1

Edmund C. Barbara ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,283,799 INFLATABLEARTICLES Edmund C. Barbera, 55 Hillandale Road, Portchester, N.Y.

Filed May 5, 1965, Ser. No. 453,437 Claims. (Cl. 152-338) This inventionrelates to inflatable articles, and more particularly concerns flexiblewalled, chambered articles in the form of inner tubes for automotivevehicles; life jackets, rafts; inflatable toys, and the like.

Various expedients have been proposed to cope with the puncture ofinflated articles, particularly, the inner tubes of motor vehicles.Thus, it has been suggested that the tube be chambered, so that thepuncture of a single chamber will leave the other chambers still intheir inflated condition; and thus avoid danger accruing from the suddenpuncture or blowout of the conventional inner tube.

However, the suggested multicham ber constructions for inner tubesdisplay one or more disadvantages, relating to complexity of theconstruction; partial effectiveness; excessive cost, or the like. Thus,the multichamber type of inner tube has not come into any substantialactual usage.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improvedinflatable aiticle, of :the multichamber type, useful as an inner tube,life raft, etc., which has a relatively simple construction making thesame inexpensive to manufacture; which is readily manipulated in use andwhich is highly effective in markedly reducing dangers incident topuncture or blowout of an inner tube.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a multicham'ber,inflatable article, improved means for independently inflating andsealing each individual chamber of the article so as to maintain theinflated condition of the various chambers despite the puncture of anygiven chamber.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in articles of thecharacter described, improved inflating means including dual air conduitmeans coactive to inflate and seal each chamber independently of theother chambers, yet being effective to retain the chamber scalingfunction for all chambers other than a chamber which has been punctured.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing aninflatable article, in the form of an inner tube, embodying theinvention, with parts cut away and parts in section;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing theinterconnected segments of the article;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional View showing the terminal ends of theinflating and sealing means thereof;

FIG. 5 is a partial front elevational view, with parts cut away andparts in section; showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Essentially, the instant invention comprises an inflatable article suchas an inner tube for automotive vehicles, or the like, which is formedwith a plurality of individually sealed chambers in adjacent relation toeach other, with outer configurations in accordance with the nature ofthe specific article. Inflating and sealing means is provided in theform of a pair of coaxially related, flexible tubings which pass throughthe several chambers; each tubing having a valved air inlet means. Theouter of the coaxial tubings is perforated along the length thereof,Whereas the inner tubing is imperforate. The tubings are so arranged attheir coterminous ends that one of the valved inlet means is effectiveto admit air between the coaxial ice tubin'gs and thus inflate each ofthe chambers via the perforations in the outer tubing, while the othervalved inlet means is effective to admit air into the inner tubing so asto inflate the same int-o sealing contact with the outer tube, thusclosing off the perforations therein.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, 10 designates an inflatable article embodying theinvention, in the form of an inner tube for the tires of an automotivevehicle. The same is of the usual doughnut shape, being made up of aplurality of similar segments generally indicated at 11. Each segment 11is in cylindrical form; the successive segments being in telescoped andintegrated relation to each other about the circumferential extent ofthe article. A terminal segment 12, hereinafter described in detail,interconnects -a pair of segments 11.

Each of the segments 11 is formed of a resilient material such asnatural of synthetic rubber or other suitable elastomeric material. Thesegments 11 comprise a cylindrical wall portion 13 with a transverselyextending end wall portion 14 at one end thereof and have an annularopen end 15 at the other end there-of. The cylindrical wall portion 13is tapered at the forward end thereof, as at 16, which tapered wallportion is telescopically received in the chamfered end portion 17 ofthe next succeeding segment 11, as shown in FIG. 3. It is understoodthat the telescoped portions 16, 17 of segments 11 are suitably cementedtogether to form the tube 10.

Means is provided for inflating and sealing the individual chambers 18formed by the telescoped, successive segments 11. To this end, the endwall 14 of each segment 11 includes a flexible conduit portion 19extending forwardly of said end wall 15; said conduit portion 19 beingopen at its forward end 20 and in communication with the chamber 18, atits rearwardly disposed end 21.

The conduit portions 19 are located adjacent the inner circumferentialextent of tube It), and somewhat remote from the outer circumferentialextent thereof, as indicated in FIG. 1. Conduit portions 19 are of alength such that when segments 11 are integrated to form tube 10, theforward end 20 which is chamfered on its outer surface as at 22, istelescopically received in the rear end portion 21 which may be flaredoutwardly as at 23' to receive the same, of the adjacent segment 11. Thethus telescoped conduit end portions 20, 21 are cemented together tothereby form a continuous conduit generally indicated at 23. Conduit 23is perforated as at 24, along the length thereof, thus establishingcommunication between conduit 23 and each of the individual chambers 18.

In addition, a continuous length of flexible, inflatable tubing 25 isdisposed within conduit 23 with the CD. of tubing 25 substantially equalto the ID. of conduit 23, so that the respective cylindrical wallsthereof lie in contact with each other.

The coaxially related conduit 23 and tubing 25 have the oppositeterminal ends thereof substantially coterminous as indicated in FIG. 4,being disposed in terminal segment 12. At one end of said coaxiallyrelated members, indicated at 26, the terminal end 27 of inner tubing 25is sealed off against inner surface portions 28 of the terminal end 29of outer conduit 23. This may be accomplished by the insertion of atubular air inlet valve means 30 into terminal and 29 of conduit 23,with a sealing flange 31 secured to conduit end 29 and a wall surfaceportion of segment 12, through an opening 31A therein.

Thus, air under pressure may be admitted to conduit 23 by way of valvedinlet means 30, and passing between tubing 25 and conduit 23 toperforations .24 along conduit 23 to inflate the individual chambers 18.The inner tubing 25 serves to seal off perforations 24 in conduit 23,and to this end, the other end of the coaxially related members 23, 25,indicated at 32, extend through an opening 33 therein. The coaxialterminal ends 34, 35

of conduit 23 and tubing 25 have their contacting wall portions clampedtogether throughout their circumferential extent by a second tubular airinlet valve means 36, and a sealing flange 37 secured to a wall surfaceportion of segment 12 at opening 33 therein, which brings air inletvalve means 30, 36 adjacent each other, FIG. 4.

Upon inflating chambers 18 to a selected pressure, by way of air inletvalve means 30; air under pressure is admitted by way of inlet valvemeans 36 to tubing 25 causing the same to inflate so as .to seal off theperforations 24 in conduit 23, thus retaining the inflated pressure ofeach chamber 18. Preferably, the air pressure in inner tubing 25 is afew pounds greater than the air pressure in chambers 18.

In the event that any one of chambers 18 is punctured or blown out; .thecollapse of the punctured chamber will not materially effect theremaining inflated chamber 18. It has been found, that the inflatedchambers 18 on either side of the collapsed chamber will tend to movecircumferentially toward each other and thus reduce the gaptherebetween. Since the circumferential extent of tube may be subdividedinto any given number of segments 11, the angular extent of each segmentmay be predetermined. It has been found that with a total of 18 segments11, 12, giving each segment an angular extent of 20, the size ofchambers 18 are optimum for proper inflation and riding characteristics,as well as protection in the event of puncture or blowout of one of thechambers.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tube 10A, which is generally similar to tube 10,hereinbefore described, may be formed economically, using the lost waxprocess, to make the cylindrical wall 40 thereof integral with thetransverse partition walls 41, forming the inflatable chambers 42. Thepartition walls 41 may be integrated, during the casting of the latex orrubber material forming cylindrical wall 40 and partition walls 41, withthe outermost of the coaxially related flexible, resilient tubing 23A.Such tubing 23A is perforated at suitable intervals as at 24A toestablish communication between tubing 23 and chambers 42.

The inner tubing 25A serves to seal the perforations 24A of tubing 23A,in the manner previously described; the terminal ends of tubings 23A,25A, being brought out through openings in a terminal portion ofcylindrical wall 40, and provided with respective air inlet valve means,all as hereinbefore described. Thus, tube 10A can be inflated aspreviously described in connection with tube 10, and puncture or blowoutof any chamber 42 will not materially affect the remaining inflatedcharnbers 42.

It will be apparent that conduits 23, 25; as well as tubing 23A, 25A,can be formed of rubber or other suitable elastomeric material, so thatthe same can be inflated to the extent necessary to effect the sealingoperations as described above.

As various changes might be made in the embodiments of the hereindisclosed invention without departing from the spirit thereof, it isunderstood that all matter herein shown or described, shall be deemedillustrative and not by way of limitation, except as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable article comprising a plurality of flexible, walledchambers in adjacent relation to each other, means for independentlyinflating each chamber comprising first flexible conduit means passingthrough opposed wall portions of each chamber and sealed thereto andsecond flexible conduit means disposed within said first conduit means,said first conduit means being formed with longitudinally spacedperforations to establish communication between said first conduit meansand the interior of each of said chambers, valved air inlet means onsaid first conduit means for admitting air under pressure between saidconduits for passage into each of said chambers via the perforations insaid first conduit means and valved air inlet means independent of saidfirst mentioned valved air inlet means on said second conduit means foradtrnitting air under pressure into said second conduit means forinflating said second conduit means into sealing contact with the innersurface of said first conduit means thereby sealing the perforationsthereof and maintaining the inflated pressure of each of said chambers,whereby puncture of the wall of any of said chambers will leave theremaining chambers in an inflated condition.

2. An inflatable article comprising a plurality of flexible, resilientwalled chambers disposed in laterally related adjacent relation to eachother, means for independently inflating each of said chamberscomprising first flexible conduit means extending longitudinally througheach of said chambers, the wall of said conduit means being perforatedto establish communication between said conduit means and the interiorof each of said chambers, second flexible conduit rneans disposed withinsaid first conduit means, the outer wall surface of said second conduitmeans being adjacent the inner wall surface of said first conduit means,first and second valved air inlet rneans independently mountedrespectively on said conduits whereby air under pressure may be admittedselectively between the opposed wall surface portions of said conduitsor into said second conduit to inflate the wall of said second conduitmeans into sealing relation to said first conduit means.

3. An inflatable article as in claim 2 wherein the coterminous ends ofsaid conduits at one end thereof have the opposed wall portions at saidone end thereof clamped together, and one of said valved air inlet meanscommunicating only with the terminal end portion of the second conduitmeans, and the coterminous ends of said conduits at the other end areclamped together and the other of said valved air inlet \rneanscommunicating only with the terminal end portion of said first conduitmeans.

4. An inflatable article as in claim 2 wherein each chamber comprises atubular flexible, resilient walled member having a transversely disposedend wall at one end thereof and being open at the other end thereof,said end wall being formed with a conduit portion extendinglongitudinally forward thereof, said conduit portion being open to theforward end thereof and in communication with the interior of saidtubular member at the rear end thereof, said tubular members beingarranged in longitudinally related, telescoping relation with the rearopen end of each tubular member in sealed engagement with the annularouter wall portion of the tubular member at the forward end thereoftelescoped therein, and the forward open end of the conduit portion ofone tubular member being telescoped and secured in the rear end of theconduit portion of the tubular member -adjacent said one tubular member,said successive, telescopically engaged conduit portions of the adjacenttubular members forming said first conduit means.

5. An inflatable, walled article formed of flexible resilinet material,said article comprising a plurality of sealed, air receiving chambersfor inflating the same, means for inflating said article comprising apair of coaxially related, flexible conduits extending through each ofsaid chambers, the outer wall surface portion of the outer conduit beingin sealed relation to chamber wall through which said outer conduitpasses, said outer conduit being formed with longitudinally spacedperforations to establish communication between said outer conduit andthe interior of each of said sealed chambers, said inner conduit beinginflatable and imperforate; valved air inlet means arranged forconnection to a terminal end of each of said conduits, means forengaging the coterminous ends of said conduits at one end thereof toclamp opposed wall portions thereof together throughout theircircumferential extend, one of said valved air inlet means communicatingwith said inner conduit means at said one end thereof; and means forengaging the coterminous 5 6 ends of said conduits at the other endthereof to clamp air receiving chambers, the puncture of any one sealedand seal the other end of said inner conduitmeans, chamber leaving theother inflated chambers unafiected. the other of said valved air inletmeans communicating with the other end of said outer conduit means,whereby References Cited by the Examiner air under pressure may beadmitted at said one valved 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS air inlet means intosaid inner conduit means to inflate said inner conduit means intosealing contact with said 2356508 8/1944 coutuner 152338 outer conduitmeans, and air under pressure may be admitted at the other valved airinlet means into said ARTHUR LA POINT Primary Exammer outer conduit forindependently inflating each of said 10 HAEFELE,ASSi-$mnf Examiner-

1. AN INFLATABLE ARTICLE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE, WALLEDCHAMBERS IN ADJACENT RELATION TO EACH OTHER, MEANS FOR INDEPENDENTLYINFLATING EACH CHAMBER COMPRISING FIRST FLEXIBLE CONDUIT MEANS PASSINGTHROUGH OPPOSED WALL PORTIONS OF EACH CHAMBER AND SEALED THERETO ANDSECOND FLEXIBLE CONDUIT MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS,SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS BEING FORMED WITH LONGITUDINALLY SPACEDPERFORATIONS TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANSAND THE INTERIOR OF EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS, VALVED AIR INLET MEANS ONSAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS FOR ADMITTING AIR UNDER PRESSURE BETWEEN SAIDCONDUITS FOR PASSAGE INTO EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS VIA THE PERFORATIONS INSAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS AND VALVED AIR INLET MEANS INDEPENDENT OF SAIDFIRST MENTIONED VALVED AIR INLET MEANS ON SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS FORADMITTING AIR UNDER PRESSURE INTO SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS FORINFLATING SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS INTO SEALING CONTACT WITH THE INNERSURFACE OF SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS THEREBY SEALING THE PERFORATIONSTHEREOF AND MAINTAINING